Broom or Squeegee with Built-in Scraper

ABSTRACT

A scraper broom intended for use on parquet, tile and other finished floors, with the scraper ( 14 ) attached to the broom head ( 10 ) by inserting its upper portion into a socket ( 12 ) which is an integral part of the broom head ( 10 ). The socket ( 12 ) is centrally located on one of the long sides of the broom head ( 10 ), the socket ( 12 ) tightly embracing the scraper ( 14 ), while the lower portion of the scraper ( 14 ) with the sharpened lower edge ( 15 ) extends downwards along the bristles ( 16 ). The scraper ( 14 ) is made preferably of abrasive-resistant plastic to assure it won&#39;t scratch finished floors. Similar embodiment is provided for a squeegee.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent applicationSer. No. 62/205,006, filed 2015 Aug. 14 by the present inventor.

DRAWINGS—FIGURES

FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C show the first embodiment of this invention for abroom. FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the broom, FIG. 1B is aperspective view of the scraper socket, and FIG. 1C is a perspectiveview of the scraper.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show how the first embodiment of the broom of thisinvention is used for sweeping and scraping.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show the second embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3A isa perspective view of the scraper support plate, and FIG. 3B is aperspective view of the scraper.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show the third embodiment of this invention. FIG. 4A isa perspective view of the scraper support plate, and FIG. 4B is aperspective view of the scraper.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show an embodiment of this invention for a squeegee.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION—FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B AND FIG. 1C—FIRST EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1A shows a general view of the first embodiment. This embodimentcomprises an elongated broom head 10 with implanted bristles 16, broomhandle 20 and scraper 14. Threaded socket 18 centrally located on theupper side of broom head 10 receives threaded lower end of broom handle20. Upward-extending scraper socket 12 with the opening close to thelower surface of broom head 10 is centrally located on one of the longsides of broom head 10. Rib 22 fills the gap between scraper socket 12and handle socket 18, providing additional support for socket 12 andadding stiffness to the structure. Sockets 12 and 18 and rib 22 are madeone-piece with broom head 10. The upper portion of scraper 14 is tightlyinserted into scraper socket 12, while the lower portion of scraper 14with sharpened lower edge 15 extends along bristles 16.

FIG. 1B shows scraper socket 12 in more detail. As it can be seen,socket 12 is formed by rectangular scraper support plate 24 withinwardly bent lips 26 a, 26 b and 26 c on its upper, left and rightedges.

As can be seen on FIG. 1C, scraper 14 is an elongated rectangular flatsheet with slightly rounded corners and sharpened lower edge 15. Toinsert scraper properly into socket 12 surface 28 should be adjacent toplate 24. This way, sharpened edge 15 can be effectively used forscraping. To assure scraper 14 will not scratch parquet, tile and otherfinished floors, it is made of abrasive-resistant plastic or anothermaterial with similar properties. The dimensions of scraper 14 should becarefully chosen in the way that, on one hand, it can be inserted intosocket 12 without using excessive force, and on the other hand it isinserted tightly enough to safely fix it in the desired position.

Operation—First Embodiment

FIG. 2A shows the first embodiment of this broom used for sweeping, andFIG. 2B—for scraping.

Description—Alternative Embodiments

FIGS. 3A and 3B show an alternative way of attaching scraper 14′ tobroom head 10. In this embodiment scraper support plate 24′ has 2parallel trapezoid-shaped grooves 32 a and 32 b with openings on thelower surface of broom head 10, while scraper 14′ is provided with 2parallel trapezoid-shaped ribs 34 a and 34 b on its upper portion. Thedimensions of ribs 34 a and 34 b are carefully chosen in the way theseribs can be tightly inserted into grooves 32 a and 32 b correspondingly.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show another alternative way of attaching scraper 14″ tobroom head 10. In this embodiment 2 parallel trapezoid-shaped ribs 36 aand 36 b are located on scraper support plate 24″, while scraper 14″ has2 parallel trapezoid-shaped grooves 38 a and 38 b with openings on theupper edge of the scraper. The dimensions of grooves 38 a and 38 b arecarefully chosen in the way that ribs 36 a and 36 b can be tightlyinserted into grooves 38 a and 38 b correspondingly.

The operation of the alternative embodiments is completely similar tothis of the first embodiment and doesn't need additional description.

FIGS. 5A and 5B showing the embodiment of this invention for a squeegeecan be understood by themselves and do not require additionaldescription.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS AND SCOPE

Thus the reader will see that at least one embodiment of the broom withbuilt-in scraper provides cheap, lightweight, aesthetically pleasing andeasy-to-use means for effective cleaning of parquet, tile, linoleum andother finished floors with stuck dirt found on them.

While several embodiments for this invention have been fully explained,many other variations and modifications are possible. For example:

-   -   The grooves and ribs used to attach scraper 14′ to scraper        support plate 24′ in the second embodiment can be T-shaped        instead of trapezium-shaped, the same is correct for the third        embodiment,    -   Instead of 2 parallel grooves and 2 ribs, one wider groove and        one wider rib can be used,    -   T-shaped rail can be provided on scraper support plate 24″ of        the third embodiment instead of ribs 36 a and 36 b and a slot        cut along the central axis of scraper 14″ instead of grooves 38        a and 38 b, in the way this rail's center profile can be tightly        inserted into this slot and T's “roof” embraces the scraper.

Accordingly, the scope of this invention should be determined not by theembodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legalequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A broom for cleaning finished floors with stuckdirt found on them, comprising: a. a broom head with implanted bristles,said broom head having at least one socket which is an integral part ofsaid broom head, b. a scraper made of a material and having a shapeproviding said scraper is scratch-safe for parquet, tile, linoleum andother finished floors, c. said scraper having at least one fasteningmember, which is an integral part of said scraper, said fastening membersuited to be accommodated by said socket, d. said scraper attached tosaid broom head by inserting said fastening member into said socket in away that said socket tightly embraces said fastening member, e. anelongated handle attached to said broom head by known conventionalmeans, whereby providing convenient means for cleaning finished floors.